Government using bulldozers to clear green cover at Aarey Metro-3 car shed site, allege protesters

The government is using bulldozers and earthmovers to clear green cover at the Metro-3 car shed site, the Save Aarey crusaders alleged on Thursday. They also shared a video showing the removal of bushes and shrubs at what they called the project site. Activist Cassandra Nazareth said 13 people were taken to the Vanrai police station after they tried to enter premises protesting the alleged destruction of greenery. In the video shared by the activists, a JCB can be seen clearing bushes and shrubs. They also claimed that a tree was uprooted. The protesters said one of the activists was beaten up by the police.

Also read: Green activists held for 'moving suspiciously' in Aarey, released after warning

Protesters being detained. Pic/Anurag Ahire

Harshad Tambe, actor and member of Save Aarey movement, said, "The point here is that trees are definitely being cut here and not just shrubs and bushes. And silently so, using JCBs instead of machine cutters that make noise. And that is a clear violation of the Honourable Supreme Court's order dated October 7, 2019, that has given a stay on any tree cutting activities in the entire Aarey forest, and not just the car shed plot."

Tambe said the government is deliberately using terms like "shrubs and bushes" to lessen their importance. "The fact is that even shrubs are equally important to landscapes. This also highlights the importance of the entire ecosystem of Aarey forest, and not just the trees."

Protesters argue with the security staff at the spot on Thursday

Nazareth said, "Why are they not allowing anyone into the disputed site? What are they hiding behind bouncers and high walls and barricades? Fadnavis clandestinely cut trees at night on October 4, 2019. Today, he is cutting trees under the guise of tree trimming for the arrival of train bogies' and he locks down Aarey? This is not a transparent government. This is a government that is attempting to hide a land scam from Mumbaikars and is using IT cell propaganda and police might to justify the loot of Aarey forest."

The scene at Filter Pada, Aarey Milk Colony. Pics/Anurag Ahire

Nature lover Abhay Azad, who is also associated with the Save Aarey cause, targeted Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. "Fadnavis has openly given a radical militant call to decimate, plunder, destroy, lie, and deceit. Sec 144 has become his favourite law to clamp down on the beautiful forest of Aarey. Detention of innocent citizens, spreading fear by pressuring the police on duty, and contempt of the Supreme Court have become a norm. Removal of leopard habitat, the apex predator in Aarey forest, earthmovers and JCBs have become his favourite toys to Illegally remove trees, shrubs and all that makes an ecosystem within the Metro shed area."

‘Cleaning, levelling done'

Project implementing body Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited has said that preparatory work of site cleaning and levelling has been done in strict compliance with the orders of the SC, Bombay High Court and the state government. "The car depot is a crucial nerve centre of any Metro line. Besides the day-to-day maintenance, the car depot is used for preventive, corrective and also major maintenance activities," said MMRCL.

Cops at the car depot gate

Eight cars of the prototype train of Metro Line-3 will soon arrive in Mumbai, it said. Temporary facilities have been set up near the ramp of the Metro-3 tunnels near Marol Maroshi Road, Sariput Nagar, to receive and assemble the Metro cars.

Screengrab from a video purportedly shot at the Aarey car shed site

The trial runs of the prototype will be conducted on the 3-km stretch from the temporary facility to Marol Naka Metro Station. According to MMRCL, the car depot and commercial operations of the first phase - SEEPZ to BKC - will be ready in the first quarter of 2024.